Automatic aerial camera



March 13, 1945. ,Aa HQ GOREY yE -l-AL 2,371,592

AUTOMATIC AERIAL CAMERA Filed Feb. 19, 1943 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 www? mvENToRs drcu Haare?. Louw/s lvzde RegnoZ 115071,.

March 13, 1945. A. H. GoREY Erm.

AUTOMATIC AERIAL CAMERA 15 sheets-sheet s Filed Feb. 19, 1943 A. H.V GOREY EI'AL AUTOMATIC AERIAL CAMERA Filed Feb. 19. 1943 l5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 13, 1945.

15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Marchv 13, 1945. A. H. GOREY 'a1-A1.

AUTOMATIC AERIAL CAMERA Filed Feb. 19, 194:

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Il Ill March 13, 1945. A. H. GoREY ErAL AUTOMATIC AERIAL CAMERA Filed Feb. 19, 1943 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 mmm n@ av uw" Y om@ March 13, 1945. A, H, GOREY ErAL 2,371,592

AUTOMATIC AERIAL CAMERA March 13, 1945 A. H, GOREY ETAL 2,371,592

AUTOMATIC AERIAL CAMERA Filed Feb. 19, 1943 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 1.1% Hay March 13, 1945. A, H, GOREY EI-AL 2,371,592

AUTOMATIC 'AERIAL CAMERA Filed Feb. 19, 1.943 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 15 l E"g.14.

March 13, 1945. A, H, GOREY TAL 2,371,592

AUTOMTIC AERIAL CAMERA Filed Feb. 19, 1943 15 Sheets-Sheet lO A. H. GoREY Erm. 2,371,592

AUTOMATIC AERIAL CAMERA Filed Feb. 19. 1943 l5 Sheets-Sheet 11 March 13, 1945. A, H, GOREY ETAL 2,371,592

AUTOMATIC AERIAL CAMERA Filed Feb. 19. 1943 `15 Sheets-Sheet 12 l wilg .1,

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AUTOMATIC AERIAL CAMERA Fi led Feb. 19, 1943 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 '-Petenied Mee. i3, 194s UNITD' STATES PATENT OFFICE AUToMA'rrc AsmAr. CAMERA Appuesaen February 19, 194s, sein: Ne. 416,456

' as claims. (el. sas-12.5)

This invention relates t'o a fully automatic aerial camera. but is not as .to all its features limited thereto. j

, In order that the principle of the invention may be readilyunderstood, we have disclosed a single embodiment oi' the invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a right handelde elevation ofthe camera as mounted in an aeroplane and showing the driving motor partly broken away. the cable for connecting the mechanical power' froml the motor to the camera being also shown;

Fig. 21s a tmnt elevation oi' the camera with partei' the lens shade broken away. and showing also the connectingx receptacle for the electrical circuit to the intervalometer,- the" motor, the powa er supply and also the manual` operating button -and the knob for changing from day to night cycle, the cover over theiuse box being broken away to show more clearly the mounting thereof; Fig. 31s a top plan view of the camera with the'alm compartment cover removed, -so as to v show the relative positions' oi the illm supply and take-up spools, the nlm idler roller, the nlm measurlng roller and the pressure pad;-

A Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the camera, showing the position o1' the tllxn spools, the shutter curtain spools and shutter curtain rollers, the capping gates being shown held open as they are when the camera is used Vior nicht photography:

F18. 5 is a bottom view ot the camera with the lens cone removed to show more clearly the caphixg gates and the mechanism for operating Fim-6 is a left hand side elevation of the camera with' the mechanism plate and motorv drive removed so as more clearly to show the camera =operating mechanism;

Fig. '1 is a vertical section the shuttercurtain rewind mechanism;

rig. is a view similar. to Fig. '1 but showing the mechanism positioned for changing the curtain exposure aperture;

rig. o is s rmm'enterlvlewffe: par: ofv the interlock mechanism plate; n v

Fig. 11 isalei; handendviewctl'ig. 10: Pig. lzisancnlargeddetailottheoperating leverorlinkforthecappinggates; Fig.l3is,apartialsectlonthroughthecamcra taken on the lineJ il-II, Fig. 14, showing the drive mechanism audits application tp the camera drive mechanism; v

the line 22-22 thereof. showing m. 1o is a demi'ef the shutter release eem g Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to a part oiFig. l, certain parts being broken away more clearly to show the operation oi the mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a view'similar to Fig. 14 but having additional parts broken away so as further to show the motor drive mechanism;

Fig. 16 ,is an enlarged detail of the capping gate release mechanism in its condition after the capping gates have been released; i,

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fia. 16 but showing the capping"gates held in open condition;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged isometric detail of a cylindrical plunger or armature of the gate latch solenoid;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged isometric detail o! the capping gate latch;-

-.F'ig. 20 is a plan view of the shutter curtain showing the several apertures thereof; v Fis. 21 is a view ci' the back or inner side of the camera control p1ate,showing the relation of the several parts mounted thereon;

Fig. 22 is a vertical section through Fig. 21 on e construction of the solenoid and the latching means, set for day photography;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view' similar to Fig. 22, but

showing one ci' the capping gates about to be engaged by the capping gate latch, the mechanlsm being now set for night photography;

Flg.l24 is a bottom vie of the camera with certain parts broken away'so as more clearly to show some of the operating mechanism, par- .tlcularly the power relay, the electrical connecting receptacles, the capping gate latch solenoid,

the fuse block and certain parts oi the wiring;

Fig.,25 is a fragmentary detail ot the right hand side of the camera magazine, showing the switch and operating means for controlling the camera' when the nlm supply is exhausted, the switch being shown open and no illm passing around the measuring roller; 1

Fig. 26 is a view of the right hand side of the camera magazine showing in dotted lines the nlm spools and idlerroller', with the nlm passing from the supply spool around the lett hand idler roller, right .hand measuring roller and take-up spool, the control switch being in closed condition; A

Fig.'27 is a detail similar to Fig. 25 but showing the nlm :apply control mechanism in condition for threadinga'new supply of iilm; and

Flg.28isawiringdiagramofthecameraand Nauxiliary devices. 5 'meeemereheremdaeieseaaedspteeferme' as a daytime camera for making either vertical or oblique photographs, and it is also adapted for use in night photography when the ground area is illuminated by flash bombs. Some of the structural features of this camera are similar to the disclosure in the co-pending application Ser. No. 437,240, filed April 1, 1942, now Pat. No. 2,362,813, dated November 14. 1944, in the names of Archie H. Gorey, Louis D, Nadel and Edson S. Hineline.

'the said Gorey and Nadel being among the coinventors of this invention. The above referred to invention `disclosed in a co-pendlng application is for a hand camera, and the camera of the present invention, while it can be readily operated by hand, is primarily intended to be operated automatically by the use of an electric motor, and when so operated, it can be controlled in a number of different ways. That is to-say, the camera herein disclosed can be operated (l) by the operator pressing a button on one of the camera walls, (2) remotely by closing an electrical circuit throughv the use of a push button' switch, (3) by a'mechanical timing device that sends out an electrical impulse, (4) by closing an electrical circuit at predetermined cycle times. (5) both by mechanical contact for the irst half of the cycle, and (6) by an automatic device actuated from the light received from the flash bombs for the second half of the cycle. These several methods or manners of operation will be more fully disclosed at the proper time in the ensuing description.

One object of this invention is to provide a fully automatic camera that can be operated from any point in the aeroplaneto which it is attached.- Other objects of the invention are: to provide an automatic camera that can be quickly changed from a day camera to a night camera: to provide aV camera that can readily be operated by hand in the event of power failure; to provide a cemera having signalling means to indicate to the operator that the camera is properly functioning; to provide a camera having automatic means for stopping the camera after the nlm supply has been exhausted; to provide automatic means to prevent the operation ,of the camera if for any reason there is no iiim in place; and to provide a camera of very rugged structure that can be used for any and all of the said methods or manners of operation, but which is wholly self-contained and readily adjusted for any ofthe several methods or manners of use. Without limiting our invention thereto nor to its use exclusively as an aerial camera, we will describe in detail the selected embodiment of our invention.

The aerial camera herein disclosed is, as hereinbefore stated, intended primarily to be operated automaticaliy by an electric motor, but-it can be readily operated by hand. Many of its general features are similar to and in some in stances substantially identical `with the construction shown in the said co-pending application of Gorey, Nadel and Hineline, 4Ser. No. 437,240. iiled April i, 1942. In order to avoid repeated references to that application, the disclosure in the present case is of the complete camera including such parts as are similar to or even identical with what is shown in said co-pending application.

Referring nrst to Fig. 1 wherein the camera is shown in outline in the position in which it is to be mounted in an aeroplane. the camera body is indicated at 20, and thereto the camera magazine 2| is attached by screws 22, 22, said magazine being provided with a mechanism cover indicated generally at 23 and held to the magazine by screws 24, 24. Attached to the said mechanism cover 23 is a motor-drive-unit mechanism, housing or box, indicated generally at 25 and having a flange-like formation 2E, the said unit, housing or box being held to the mechanism cover 23 by screws 21, 21. A worm gear housing 2B is attached to the said motor drive unit 25 10. by screws 29, 29 and formed integral with the unit or housing 25 is a box-like structure 30 (best shownin Figs. 14 and 15) having a cover 3| (Fig. l) attached thereto by screws 32, 32 threaded in suitable holes in the said box-like structure 30.

Projecting from the magazine cover 23 is a shutter reset knob 33, an escutcheon plate 34 being also attached to said cover 23 by means of screws 35, 35. and through said plate 34 the shutter speed indication is visible, as clearly .evident from Fig. 1. A signal receptacle 35 is attached to the camera body by screws 31, 3l, and by suitable screws (n ot shown) a lens support 38 is attached to the lower face of the camera body. and to said lens support is attached a lens shade 39. A lens mount ID with a suitable lens for aerial photography particularly, though no t exclusively, is shown in said figure in dotted lines, and it is therein represented as provided with a diaphragm adjusting lever 4| that protrudes through an open slot 42 in said lens shade 39, being held in position by a lock plate 43 attached to the lens shade 39 by screws 43a, 43a (best shown in Fig. 2).

Also shown in Fig. l is a flexible shaft coupling 44 of suitable construction that is attached to the worm gear or motor drive housing and to said coupling 44 is fitted a suitable flexible shaft coupling, itself attached to a flexible shaft, tubular housing 4B through which passes a exible drive shaft 41. The opposite end of l the said flexible shaft, tubular housing 46 is provided with a second coupling 48 attached t0 an electric drive motor 49 supported on a Wall of the aeroplane by means of a support plate 50 and screws 5|, 5|.

Reference is next made to Figs. l, 2 and 24, and particularly to Fig. 2 wherein in front elevation is shown the camera magazine 2| and its removable cover 52 held to said magazine by 5, thumb screws 53, 53. The space between the motor drive unit or housing and the camera body 20 is closed by means of a U-shaped strap cover 54 that is held to the said motor drive unit by screws 55, 55. Attached to the front face` of the camera body 2li (as more completely shown in Fig. 24) is a relay housing or cover 56 of a box-like shape having an inner member or relay bottom plate 51 securely attached to the camera 'body 2li in any suitable manner. The said relay housing or cover 56 is held to the inner member or bottom'plate 51 by screws 58 shown in Fig. 2. The camera body 2B is provided in its side with an opening (best shown in section in Fig. 24) provided with a cover plate 69 held to the said camera body 20 by screws 50, 60. Atttached to said cover plate 59 is an intervalometer receptacle 3|, shown in Fig. 2 as held thereby by screws 62, 62; a motor receptacle 63 held thereto by screws 64. 54; a power supply receptacle 55 held thereto by screws 5B. 65; and a manual switch 61 held thereto by nuts 58 and, 58a. Also attached to the said cover plate 59 is a day-and-night control knob 69. 'an index pointer 1|! being provided on the said l5 cover plate 58 to indicate the proper setting.

gularly extending members |44, |44 and the said rod I4! has fitted thereover a spring |45, one end whereof is hooked over the right angled member |44 and the-other end whereof is engaged by the lower flange of the capping gate support plate |2|. The said spring |45 causes the capping gate |33 to be turned in a contraclockwise direction viewing Fig. 4.

Both said capping gates |32, |33 are shown in the fully open position in Fig. 4 and in the closed position in Fig. 5, and it is noted that in Fig, 6 the said capping gates are shown in their closed horizontal position in dotted lines, and are also shown in dotted lines ln their open position. The normal position for the said capping gates is the closed position shown in Fig. 5, and they are in the open position shown in Fig. 4 only during the time of making anexposure, as well as at certain times prior to making a night ex,-

posure. as will be. more fully explained when describing the making of night or flash photographs.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, to th left hand flange |46 of the capping gate support plate |2| is tted a capping gate actuating disk |41 (best shown in Fig. 5) through which passes a shaft to the opposite end whereof is iitted and securely locked a pinion |43. The axial relation between said disk |41 and the said pinion |46 is adjustable through the act of loosening o. nut |48a threaded onto the shaft of the 'said pinion and serving to clamp the said disk to a suitable shoulder (not shown) on said shaft. This adjustment constitutes means providing conveniently for an initial setting of the said pinlon,|46 with respect to the position oi' the capping gates |32, |33. during the act of assembling in manufacture, and after such initial adjustment has been made, no furtheradiustment is required.

Still referring to Figs. 5 and 6 and also to Figs. l2 and 13, there is provided in meshing relationv with the pinion |43 a gear |43 having'attached thereto a lever |50, said gear and lever belns free to rotate on a shoulder rivet |5| itself riveted to the circular gear housing |52 of the camera magazine 2|. the hinge member |34 of the capping gate |32 by a connecting link member |520 (best shown in Fig. 6), one end of said link member being attached to the said disk |41 by shoulder rivet |53 (best shown ln Fig. 13), the opposite end of the said link member |62a being connected to the said hinge member |34 f the capping gate |32 by a shoulder rivet |54 (best shown in Fig. 6 as riveted into the right angle extension |40 of the said hinge member |34). The said hinge member |35 is connected to the said disk |41 by a connectingA member |55 (best shown in Fig. 6) and by a shoulder rivet |56, and is connected to the right angled member |44 by a shoulder rivet |51.

'When the lever |50 is turned ln a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 6. the disk |41 will be rotated in acontraclockwise direction, thereby causing the connecting link member |52a to be moved in a right hand direction, carrying with it the right langled member '|06 of the hinge plate |34, thus causing the cappinggate |32tobe turned in a contraclockwise direction viewing Fig. 6 (that is, into its open position), and the capping gate |33 will be caused t0 be turned in a clockwise direction (that is. into its open position) through the connecting link member |65. The shoulder rivet |56 is provided with a cylindrical extension |50 (shown in Figs. 6 and l2) that ensages a shut-ter release lever |53 (shown in Figs.

The said disk -|41 is connected to 5, 13 and 15) for releasing the shutter when the capping gates |32. |33 approach their full open position.

From the structure shown in Fig. 6, the mechanism cover plate 23 has been removed and one wall of the camera body 20 has been cut away in order to show more clearly the shutter mechanism and the film rewind mechanism. As therein shown, the shutter curtain take-up roll |24 having, as stated, its shaft |26 passing through the magazine end wall 83, is tted with a pinion held to said shaft |26 by a lock nut |6|. The shutter curtain tension roller |25, provided. as stated, with the shaft |21 extending through the magazine end wall 83, has fitted thereto a lock plate |62 for the purpose of turning the said shaft and thereby tensioning the spring |20. When suilicient tension has been placed on said spring, screws |63, |63 are threaded into suitable holes in the said magazine outer wall 03 so as to engage notches |64 of the said lock plate |62.

The shutter curtain |29 is shown in the rundown condition in Fig. 4, this being the position of the shutter curtain when night exposures are being made, as wlll be described more fully at a subsequent point.

Referring now to Figs. 6, '1.4i and 13, when the shutter curtain is rewound for making an instantaneous exposure, the pinion |60 is turned in a clockwise direction by means of a shutter rewind gear |65 that for such purpose is turned in a contraclockwise direction. In order to turn said pinion |60 in a clockwise direction for rewinding the shutter curtain, there is provided a train of gears, also serving for winding iilln onto the take-up spool for a subsequent exposure. Meshing with the said shutter rewind gear |65 is an idler gear |66 that meshes with a second idler gear |61, both of which idler gears are mounted on a gear rocker arm |68, the idler gear |66 being mounted on a shoulder stud |66a (best indicated ln Fig. 13), the idler gear |66 being provided with a shoulder rivet indicated at |63. Threaded into the magazine end wall 83, as indicated in Fig. 6, is a shoulder screw |10l and pivoted thereon is the said gear-rocker arm |68 and also an idler gear |1|.

Mounted on the take-up spool shaft 38 is a slip clutch drive (indicated generally at |12) having a` gear |13 indicated in dotted lines in Fig, 6 as meshing with the idler gear |1| and also with an intermediate gear |14. The Said gear |13 is of sufficient width to accommodate the faces of both gears |1| and |14. inasmuch as saidlattzr gears are not in alignment but are so spaced that the gear |14 clears the gear |1l.

Attached to the said intermediate gear |14 is a drive pinion |15, said gear and pinion being carried on a shoulder stud |16 threaded into the end wall 83 of the camera magazine. Meshing with the said drive pinion |15 is a main drive or master gear |11 having drive pins |10,- |10. The said main drive gear |11 is mounted on a shoulder stud |13 tted to the said magazine end wall 33 (most clearly shown in Fig. 13), the said main drive gear being held in place by a large head screw |30, and lt is also provided, as shown ln Fig. 13, with a hub |11a so as properly to space v said main drive gear from the magazine end wall When the main drive or master gear |11 is turned in a contraclockwise direction viewing Figs. 4. 6 and 13. the gear train, consisting oi the gears |11, |15. |14. |13, lli, |61, |66 an |35 and the pinion |60, will be caused t0 turn pftnesimn.

clockwise direction, thus winding up the film |20 l on the spool l. As the iilm is so wound on said spool 0I and also over and around the measuring roller 02, the shaft 02 will be caused vto turn in a clockwise direction, turning with it the pinion lll so as to cause an index gear |82 (best. l0

shown in Fig. 6) to be turned ina contraclockwise direction. 'Said index gea |02 'is mounted on the magazine wall 03 byineans of a shoulder Ascrew |82. Attached to the index gear |02 is Va at Ill in F18. 6, l5

cam plate shown in dotted lines beingsoattachedbyscrewsill.

Whenthe measuring roller I2 has turned a suillcient distance to` cause a notch in the said cam plate |00' to be in the position shown' in drop into the said notch' under the influence of a spring |01 carrying-with it apawl |08, the

saidpawl arm being-mounted on th'e magazine end wall 00 by a shoulder screw |00. The said pawl |88 will-now engage the teeth cfa ratchet 2s m oaths said slip clutch m. thus preventing further turning movement offthe said take-up spool It and :hereby stopping further movement The slip clutch |12 i of any suitable onstructionand-is desirably oi' the structureshown inthe said co-pendingapplication -of Gorey, Nadel and Hineline, Ser. No. 437,240. The requirements of such sli -clutch willnorwbeseti'orth,andre'ferencewill to the immediately oo -acting parts. k 'lhe shaft Il drives the take-up spool Il and integral with saidshaft is the said ratchet |00. The gear ismountedonthesaidshaft `,butiiisucha manner that ,when a predeterminedload'lustso suiiicient to wind iilm on the take-,up l Il l isputonsaidshai'tll. thesaid gear i lwillbe. allowed to tum even though said shaft is held in a stationary condition. Therefore, when suf-,\ iicient iilm has been measured oil' for anexposure, the L-shaped end of the pawl arm |00 engages the notch in the cam plate III, and its pawl |08 will engage the'teeth of the ratchet |00,- thus preventing the take-up spool' Il from being' turnedl but allowing the gear |10 to continue turning so as to comple shutter curtain. The diameter ofthe measuring roll i2 and the gear ratio between the pinion |l| l and the index gear |82 is such that when the index gear I 02, makes one, complete revolution. .55

a suiiiclent amount of hlm will have been fed to provide a newunexposed area of tllm in front of the exposure opening.

As be'st'shown in Figs. l0 and 11, but referring also t0 F188. 4," 8 and 13, there is lttched t0 the 60 shutter curtain rewind gear III in a manner to be' more fully described at a subsequent point.; a shutter release cam plate Ill having aperipheral notch |92. To`the end wall lI(beatshowninF1g.6) ashutterlatchorre lease lever -I is attached by means oi' a .shoulder screw |04, it being caused to rotate in a con-- traclockwise direction about the screw i by a spring |00. one end whereof is hooked in a hole I of the lever |02 and the opposite end whereof 7o is engaged by pin |01. The said latch or release lever |03 is provided with a downwardly extend.

ing dog |00 'for engaging the peripheralnotoh |02 of the shuttevrelease cam'plate il I'.

in m.s, me mechanism n shown in condition u.

made at the winding of the The said pressure plate or pad I 5 is for that purpose positioned on four pressure plate or pad raising pins III that pass through suitable holes of the inner wall |23 oi' the camera magazine and also through suitable holes in the capping gate support plate |2| (clearly shown in Fig. 4). When the capping gates |32, |33 are in the open position (shown in the li. Jer dotted lines in l Fig. 6), vthe pins |09 are caused to be moved Flg.6.the L-shaped end ofapawlarm Itlwill zo downwardly by the pressure plate or pad IIE through the action of plate springs 200, one of which is shown in Fig. 4 as pressing on the vertical members ||B,. H0 oi' the pressure plate or pad III. As indicated in Fig. 4, each spring 200 is riveted to thegmagazine icover 52 by rivets 20|. When the capping gates |32, |33 are closed (as indicated in the upper or horizontal dotted lines in Fig. 6 and in section in Fig. 13) the rods |20 are moved in an upward direction findicsdinrias') maybe under the innuence of the hinge members m,

|06. thus raising the pressure plate or pad H5 to the position indicated in Fig. 6.

When the lever (shown in Figs. 6 and 13) is caused to be rotated in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 6. thereby opening the capping gates |02. |02 prior to making an exposure, as shown inthe lower dotted line position. Fig. 6, the said pressure plate or pad IIS will be moved downwardly by means of the springs 200 and will then securely hold the iilm |20 in contact with the exposure aperture plate H0, Fig. 4, thereby clamping the film |20 between the said pressure late or pad III and the said aperture plate Il.. Said llli. will be held in Such clamped condition as long as the lever |50 is held in the left hand position viewing Fig. 6, that being the vposition for making an exposure. When the said lever |50 is released or allowed to tum in a contraclockwise direction viewing Fig. 6, thus 59' closing the capping gates-`r |22, |23, the pressure plate or pad ||5 will be removed from contact with the film |20, thereby preventing anv scratching or injury thereof during illm winding nirior to a second exposure.

Inprder to cause an exposure to be made, the .following action takes place, reference being made particularly to Fig. 6 and also to Figs. 12, 13 and 15, it being understood that the; action in 'this respect is similar to that disclosed in the Hineline. excepting for the means herein dis,-

vided instead -of the lever or trigger I0. shown in said o o-pending application. The said lever Illiscausedtobeturnedinacloekwisedirection viewing Flg.6. This is actually done by the motor drive mechanism to be hereinafter fully described, and already referred to in the description of Fig. 1, but for simplincation oi' the descriptfoifat this point, it may be assumed that the said lever is moved manually. When so'moved in a clockwise directionviewing Fig. 6, 4tl'isgear lisalsoturnedinaolockwisedirecf tion and pinion` |40 is turned in` a contraclockwise direction. turning with it the disk Ill. In-

said copending application of Gorey. Nadel and 

